Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-31
CT ADTER LII

But when the morning came the I'M
preston left upon his mind by the un-
accountable occurrences of the previous
night did not pass away.
Although fanciful and imaginative,
Saville was not superstitious. He pos
sessed too much practical good sense to
permit Of his being believer i'll the
so.called occult sciences, i'll which many
of his friends took strange delight.
Psychical research was thing to him
unknown. Hitherto he had shrugged
his shoulders at such matters, but now
this strange experience fairly took him.
aback. Could it be possible the spirit
world was nearer to him than he
dreamed? That some unknown force
wss compelling him to a belief
in the supernatural against his
will? With an effort he shook od
the unwonted sensation hanging over
him and went to his task again. He
laughed at the curious shrinking with
which he approached the old bureau
when the sun was high in the heavens
and all the world astlr. 1t was too
ridiculous, and yet, as he opened the
desk, turned down the falling leaf, and
bent over his manuscript. the overpow-
erin0 scent OF dead roses and the cold
chill underlying it came upon him with
rush, almost sickening him as he
stood. at the same moment the haunt
ing sense of a presence at his side
made him turn sharply; but the room
was of course empty, and the odor died
away.
he recovered himself quickly and
began to work on the blurred, blotted,
sheets bis hand had traced on the pre-
vious night. Gradually the impression
that he had been made the object of Il
supernatural visitation passed Of.
After awhile he INDUCED in a quiet
laugh at his own expense. Why, OF
course be had been dreaming. That
vision of the hand and pointing fingers
was only u vivid production of a BRAIN
tired out 10y an unusual amount OF
work. What an ass he had been to
give it o moments thought He tore
up the blotted sheets and began to
work with Fright good will 4" upon a
fresh quire OF paper. He was SO far
satisfied with his tale-his hero was
neither god nor demon his heroine
q very womanly woman. "tll make
good work OF this" he thought, with a
glow of satisfaction at his heart.
Soft, soft, and low, no louder than
the throbbing of his pulses, came that
faint touch ON the desk at his right
hand. 1t was SO low. so faint and far
away, that it resembled rather the echo
Of a sound than the sound itself. 1.-THE
same time the chill scent of dead roses
filled the air. Saville started back
There could be no room for doubt now,
for there before him, cleaning lus-
trous-white i'll the daylight, as il illu.
mined by some mystic glow, close to
him-so close that he could have
grasped it had he dared-hoated
that phantom hand. II was ex-
tended further now, and Saville saw
that a heavy bracelet of antique
workmanship-a blaze of fiery rubies -
encircled the perfect wrist. He leaped
to his feet and faced round. There
was nothing visible--only the cold
sense OF dread presence in the room,
unseen but awiully real. made the
clsmmy dews start on his forehead,
and his knees almost gave way und.r
him. Again the sound, degree louder
now, and the ghostly vision seemed to
touch one particular spot where the rose
garlsnds met and intertwined. At the
same moment sigh, faint but distiact,
foated through the room. Savi!le's
brain ree!sd; he leaned heavily on the
desk before him for support. Stupe-